stonedape
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since July 2016
Posts: 116
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Post by stonedape on Aug 4, 2016 14:09:05 GMT -5
Hello everyone! I plan on using this thread to document my first tumble from start to finish. I look forward to sharing my experience and also to get a little help along the way.
All of the below rocks I have collected myself. It took some time but I think I'm finally ready to go. Let's Get Ready to Tumblllllllllle.
If you would like to view larger pictures with the ability to zoom I made a flickr account that all my rock pictures will be located. www.flickr.com/photos/144355911@N04/
In this first picture are rocks that I am unsure if I should tumble. A few I think are to soft (they look granular) and some have fractures (I really want to tumble that clear quartz). The top left Agate has a pocket that goes about 3/4 of an inch right into the middle of it
Any Rocks that you would tumble with Quartz? How about any that you definitely wouldn't. Please add as much info about any rocks that you see so that I can learn and maybe beginners reading this down to road can learn too.
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stonedape
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since July 2016
Posts: 116
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Post by stonedape on Aug 4, 2016 14:10:55 GMT -5
In these next few pictures are rocks that I intend to tumble. I decided to find my own "filler" instead of buying ceramic filler. I tried to find quartz of all sizes so the abrasive can get worked in really good. Any red flags? First picture is the full picture of the majority of the rocks I plan on tumbling This is a picture of agates I plan on tumbling (the first one sadly will not get tumbled it has a crevice that goes about 3/4" into the center of the rock. This would catch abrasive and ruin all of the rocks, correct?) This is a zoom of the "Black Rocks" I really don't know the identity of any of them but some of them I believe will turn out really nice. This is the zoom of the "Red Rocks". I do not know what type of rocks these are either. There is one in there that is a really deep red-is this a type of quartz? Finally different shades of what I believe are White Quartz.
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Post by mohs on Aug 4, 2016 16:20:08 GMT -5
good start what type of tumbler do you have?
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stonedape
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since July 2016
Posts: 116
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Post by stonedape on Aug 4, 2016 16:36:51 GMT -5
good start what type of tumbler do you have? It's a 3 lb rotary tumbler by Chicago. I found it for $20. I figured it is a good entry model for me. If I like tumbling I will probably move to either a larger or a double cylinder.
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Post by mohs on Aug 4, 2016 17:06:18 GMT -5
as remarked I don't know tumbling or tumblers but load it up, grit it and let it roll !
others will give more sage advice
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huskeric
spending too much on rocks
Member since May 2016
Posts: 353
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Post by huskeric on Aug 5, 2016 8:22:20 GMT -5
Some of your photos aren't coming through. On your red rocks close-up, I would say that most of those are jaspers. I would tell you to go ahead and roll 'em, even the agates that have the defects. For your first tumble, you really want to see what doesn't work as much as what does. I learned more from the stuff I screwed up than the ones I got halfway decent. If you're going to get into this a little deeper, I have found that doing some pre-forming goes a LONG way to making the first stage (and consequently all subsequent stages) go faster and with better results. I got into is fairly cheaply with a 4" angle grinder, a diamond blade and a diamond cup wheel. I got the Porter Cable PC60TAG grinder off Amazon for $25, a Bosch DB443S diamond wheel for $12 more and the cup wheel I got locally for another $12. So for $50 I got a tool that isn't expressly designed for this, but does a really good job in shaping and cutting rocks for the tumbler. Plus, I can always find other things to do with the angle grinder.
To your original questions, I see the quartz rocks you want to tumble, and they will be fine with this load, but I would caution you about expectations. In your first pic, top and second row, starting second from the left, those rocks have cracks in them to start with. As they polish, they *may* tumble out to a degree, but your white quartz rock, the flaw looks to me like it is part of a breakage in the rock. If you notice, it is a bit "frostier" in that segment. That looks to me like an area that had an impact at some point and broke the rock. It may be very much intact, but if it's broken, as more of the rest of the rock is worn away, the parts of it that are holding that piece in place may erode away and ultimately it will chip off.
Keep in mind, a meteor MAY come and destroy the Earth tomorrow, or it MIGHT rain frogs. What I mean by that is there's only one REALLY good way to find out what will happen to those rocks when you tumble them...
It's your first batch, and nobody here starts tearing you to shreds over less than perfect results until your third batch. ;-)
If you're worried, just do a search on my posts and read all of the less-than-intelligent things I've tried in the 60 days or so that I've been here. Nobody, and I mean NOBODY has been anything but wonderful and nice. I picked up a motto, "fail rapidly." That means simply, don't over-analyze a situation and be afraid to try things. Keep your eyes open and your ears open, and make sure you learn from your mistakes. I'm taking my first batch and re-tumbling them as we speak because of what I have learned as part of the experience. Good luck, my friend!
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stonedape
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since July 2016
Posts: 116
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Post by stonedape on Aug 5, 2016 9:58:55 GMT -5
Some of your photos aren't coming through. On your red rocks close-up, I would say that most of those are jaspers. I would tell you to go ahead and roll 'em, even the agates that have the defects. For your first tumble, you really want to see what doesn't work as much as what does. I learned more from the stuff I screwed up than the ones I got halfway decent. If you're going to get into this a little deeper, I have found that doing some pre-forming goes a LONG way to making the first stage (and consequently all subsequent stages) go faster and with better results. I got into is fairly cheaply with a 4" angle grinder, a diamond blade and a diamond cup wheel. I got the Porter Cable PC60TAG grinder off Amazon for $25, a Bosch DB443S diamond wheel for $12 more and the cup wheel I got locally for another $12. So for $50 I got a tool that isn't expressly designed for this, but does a really good job in shaping and cutting rocks for the tumbler. Plus, I can always find other things to do with the angle grinder. To your original questions, I see the quartz rocks you want to tumble, and they will be fine with this load, but I would caution you about expectations. In your first pic, top and second row, starting second from the left, those rocks have cracks in them to start with. As they polish, they *may* tumble out to a degree, but your white quartz rock, the flaw looks to me like it is part of a breakage in the rock. If you notice, it is a bit "frostier" in that segment. That looks to me like an area that had an impact at some point and broke the rock. It may be very much intact, but if it's broken, as more of the rest of the rock is worn away, the parts of it that are holding that piece in place may erode away and ultimately it will chip off. Keep in mind, a meteor MAY come and destroy the Earth tomorrow, or it MIGHT rain frogs. What I mean by that is there's only one REALLY good way to find out what will happen to those rocks when you tumble them... It's your first batch, and nobody here starts tearing you to shreds over less than perfect results until your third batch. ;-) If you're worried, just do a search on my posts and read all of the less-than-intelligent things I've tried in the 60 days or so that I've been here. Nobody, and I mean NOBODY has been anything but wonderful and nice. I picked up a motto, "fail rapidly." That means simply, don't over-analyze a situation and be afraid to try things. Keep your eyes open and your ears open, and make sure you learn from your mistakes. I'm taking my first batch and re-tumbling them as we speak because of what I have learned as part of the experience. Good luck, my friend! Can you tell me which photos arent coming through? Ican see them all on my phone. Thank you for all this info. I figured those quartz I had isolated were not good to tumble. Or at the least there is s good chance at some of them breaking apart. I really am afraid not to fail, but at the same time I can ask questions and solve a problem before it happens I would rather go that route. I have gathered these rocks over a decent about of time would like decent results. Also I already have an angle grinder so I could just get a diamond blade if I ever want to go that route. Thanks again for the help!
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ChicagoDave
has rocks in the head
Member since June 2016
Posts: 720
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Post by ChicagoDave on Aug 5, 2016 11:07:04 GMT -5
I don't see pictures 2 or 3 in your second post.
After "This is a picture of agates..." and "This is a zoom of the..."
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stonedape
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since July 2016
Posts: 116
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Post by stonedape on Aug 5, 2016 11:33:45 GMT -5
I don't see pictures 2 or 3 in your second post. After "This is a picture of agates..." and "This is a zoom of the..." How about now? I erased them and added them again. Hope that worked.
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huskeric
spending too much on rocks
Member since May 2016
Posts: 353
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Post by huskeric on Aug 5, 2016 12:02:41 GMT -5
Just the last one isn't coming through for me. Those are neat agates. Those would probably benefit from some pre-shaping, but if you don't have the gear, it won't be a big deal. They will come out beautifully in the spots that matter the most, but they probably won't take a uniform polish, just because of the crevices. Good luck!
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stonedape
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since July 2016
Posts: 116
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Post by stonedape on Aug 5, 2016 12:24:23 GMT -5
Just the last one isn't coming through for me. Those are neat agates. Those would probably benefit from some pre-shaping, but if you don't have the gear, it won't be a big deal. They will come out beautifully in the spots that matter the most, but they probably won't take a uniform polish, just because of the crevices. Good luck! Okay...the last picture should be there now.
I like the Agates also. I have a lot of Agates but most of them I don't think I would tumble. I think I am going to leave that first one out because it has a crevice that goes halfway into the rock. I know it would hold grit in there. I suppose I could specifically take that Agate out after every stage and clean it out really good or is that a bad idea?
I don't think I want to pre-shape. Maybe after a few batches if I get frustrated. I figured it took millions of years to form these rocks. I went out and found them in the wild so why not be patient and let the tumbler do the work. I figure some of the rocks I put in won't make it to Stage two and will go back into stage one with my next batch.
Cheers
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Post by Garage Rocker on Aug 5, 2016 12:33:36 GMT -5
Just the last one isn't coming through for me. Those are neat agates. Those would probably benefit from some pre-shaping, but if you don't have the gear, it won't be a big deal. They will come out beautifully in the spots that matter the most, but they probably won't take a uniform polish, just because of the crevices. Good luck! Okay...the last picture should be there now.
I like the Agates also. I have a lot of Agates but most of them I don't think I would tumble. I think I am going to leave that first one out because it has a crevice that goes halfway into the rock. I know it would hold grit in there. I suppose I could specifically take that Agate out after every stage and clean it out really good or is that a bad idea?
I don't think I want to pre-shape. Maybe after a few batches if I get frustrated. I figured it took millions of years to form these rocks. I went out and found them in the wild so why not be patient and let the tumbler do the work. I figure some of the rocks I put in won't make it to Stage two and will go back into stage one with my next batch.
Cheers
You can still try the one with the big crevice. Cut it along the crack with a tile saw, or hit it with a hammer and it will likely come apart on the fault. Tumble both halves and you'll get the pleasure of viewing the outer surface and the inside also.
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stonedape
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since July 2016
Posts: 116
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Post by stonedape on Aug 5, 2016 12:36:47 GMT -5
Okay...the last picture should be there now.
I like the Agates also. I have a lot of Agates but most of them I don't think I would tumble. I think I am going to leave that first one out because it has a crevice that goes halfway into the rock. I know it would hold grit in there. I suppose I could specifically take that Agate out after every stage and clean it out really good or is that a bad idea?
I don't think I want to pre-shape. Maybe after a few batches if I get frustrated. I figured it took millions of years to form these rocks. I went out and found them in the wild so why not be patient and let the tumbler do the work. I figure some of the rocks I put in won't make it to Stage two and will go back into stage one with my next batch.
Cheers
You can still try the one with the big crevice. Cut it along the crack with a tile saw, or hit it with a hammer and it will likely come apart on the fault. Tumble both halves and you'll get the pleasure of viewing the outer surface and the inside also. Hmmm.....good idea. I think I might try a wedge and a hammer. I would hate to ruin it, however I would hate to deprive it of becoming more beautiful. lol
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huskeric
spending too much on rocks
Member since May 2016
Posts: 353
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Post by huskeric on Aug 5, 2016 12:41:04 GMT -5
I don't think it would be a bad idea to include that agate, but if you get close on space in your barrel, then I would maybe leave that one out for now. You might be surprised how it comes out. I also am with you on the pre-shaping, I respect that. It's like woodworking, you can always take more off later, but it's considerably harder to put it back on once it's off. Some of my coolest rocks IMHO are the ones that have a flawless side and a side that shows them more like they would be in nature. It's a neat contrast.
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stonedape
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since July 2016
Posts: 116
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Post by stonedape on Aug 5, 2016 12:50:20 GMT -5
This is the hole that goes into the agate. Im probably going to put a wedge in the hole and hit it with a hammer and get two pieces then tumble them. Any reason not to do that?
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ChicagoDave
has rocks in the head
Member since June 2016
Posts: 720
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Post by ChicagoDave on Aug 5, 2016 13:09:34 GMT -5
I can see all the pictures now. I just got started with tumbling so I don't have much to offer other than don't move rocks to the next stage until you are happy with their shape. Looking forward to seeing how these turn out. I would be tempted to just throw that last one in and see what happens.
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huskeric
spending too much on rocks
Member since May 2016
Posts: 353
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Post by huskeric on Aug 5, 2016 15:26:34 GMT -5
Well... I will quote one of my favorite Ren & Stimpy episodes when they are confronted with a red button and need to decide whether or not to push it, "mayyybe something good will happen, mayyyybe something bad will happen." =) Honestly, it would probably be kinda neat if you could keep that intact. I would probably try to get those pebbles out and either roll it as it is and see what happens, or I almost wonder if you could fill that gap with anything that would help it stand up against tumbling. I am thinking like caulking or something that you could get out later. I'm out over my skis on that recommendation, so I would maybe put that question to the broader audience. I just think if you could do that, it might wear down the edges of that crater and leave most of it intact. I know some folks use a product called Opticon to fill the gap that is more or less an epoxy, and then when the stone is finished, it would be solid and look almost like polished quartz inside. If you haven't read this tutorial, I HIGHLY recommend it. www.skeenastormstones.com/uploads/1/3/2/4/13243124/rock_tumbling_tutorial_for_beginners_rev7-18-09.pdfThe Opticon is mentioned on the second page. I have even read a tutorial on how to use that stuff somewhere... I've not used it myself, so I can't say how expensive it is or how easy it is to use or how well it works. So I've thrown you out in to the deep end on your own!
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Post by Peruano on Aug 5, 2016 15:39:54 GMT -5
As an off the wall experiment, I'd consider filling that hole with wax which can be removed in boiling water when you are done (if it doesn't come out before you are done). Tumble on, the price is right, they are your rocks, and you want to learn what will and will not produce in your shop. Good luck.
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stonedape
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since July 2016
Posts: 116
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Post by stonedape on Aug 5, 2016 15:41:00 GMT -5
Well... I will quote one of my favorite Ren & Stimpy episodes when they are confronted with a red button and need to decide whether or not to push it, "mayyybe something good will happen, mayyyybe something bad will happen." =) Honestly, it would probably be kinda neat if you could keep that intact. I would probably try to get those pebbles out and either roll it as it is and see what happens, or I almost wonder if you could fill that gap with anything that would help it stand up against tumbling. I am thinking like caulking or something that you could get out later. I'm out over my skis on that recommendation, so I would maybe put that question to the broader audience. I just think if you could do that, it might wear down the edges of that crater and leave most of it intact. I know some folks use a product called Opticon to fill the gap that is more or less an epoxy, and then when the stone is finished, it would be solid and look almost like polished quartz inside. If you haven't read this tutorial, I HIGHLY recommend it. www.skeenastormstones.com/uploads/1/3/2/4/13243124/rock_tumbling_tutorial_for_beginners_rev7-18-09.pdfThe Opticon is mentioned on the second page. I have even read a tutorial on how to use that stuff somewhere... I've not used it myself, so I can't say how expensive it is or how easy it is to use or how well it works. So I've thrown you out in to the deep end on your own! I have decided I am going to throw it in for the first stage and then reassess after 10 days. Keeps my options open.
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stonedape
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since July 2016
Posts: 116
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Post by stonedape on Aug 5, 2016 17:29:56 GMT -5
Well the tumbler is rockin' and rollin', pun intended. It seems to be well balanced and it's not rubbing anywhere. Not sure what it is supposed to sound like but it sounds a whole lot like a aquarium just a little louder.
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